Business as usual for Terry in new mag

news
Thu 17 Jul 2014

John Terry is preparing to lead the Blues as captain for the 11th consecutive campaign and, in the latest edition of Chelsea, available now in print and digital format, he reflects on his 20 years at the club as well as outlining his hopes for the coming season.

Terry was undoubtedly one of the most consistent Premier League performers last season, impressively marshalling the Chelsea back four as we conceded fewer goals than any other side.

He was rewarded for his displays with a new one-year contract, which he signed earlier in the summer, allowing him to focus fully on what lies ahead.

‘I’m delighted to have signed for another year,’ he tells the club’s official magazine. ‘I feel good, I feel fit, last season went well for me personally and hopefully I can repeat that, but this time we obviously want to win trophies.

‘I think we should be very competitive. We were close last year, but just unlucky at times. With the signings we have made and a couple of younger players who I think will surprise a few people this year, I think this should be a very good year. We want to win trophies – that is always the aim from the outset for me.’

Terry’s preparations for next season have understandably taken on a strange feeling due to the absence of his two closest friends at the club for many years – Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole.

Lampard, a team-mate of Terry’s since 2001, announced he would be leaving the club in June, while Cole recently signed for Serie A outfit Roma.

‘It feels different coming in and Lamps not being sat next to me,’ he says. ‘We have sat next to each other in the changing room since... well, since he signed for the club really. I’ve become really close to Lamps and Ash and they were my two best mates at the club.

‘So I’m really sad to see arguably the best player the club has ever had, in Lamps, move on, for what he brought to the dressing room and as a mate. You understand that you all get older, but you just hope that point doesn’t come.

‘It’s the same with Ash. It was a big move for him to come here from Arsenal at the time. He took a lot of stick but it was a bold move and it took a lot of guts to do what he did. For me, he has been the best left-back England has ever had – that is why we signed him. They will certainly be missed, although I’m sure the fans will never forget them.’

The arrival of Cesc Fabregas will certainly strengthen the squad and, having played against him on numerous occasions, Terry welcomed the signing of the Spaniard.

‘He’s a very good signing. He is great on the ball, a great box-to-box player, he scores an awful lot of goals as well and he has got an aggressive streak in him too – I certainly remember that from his Arsenal days,’ explains the captain. ‘I’m sure he is going to fit in really well at Chelsea and do well in the years to come.’

Farewell to a legendCole’s departure is addressed in the latest edition of the magazine, with a five-page tribute to arguably the club’s greatest left-back.

Cole was an integral member of the squad during the most successful period in the club’s history, winning nine trophies during his time as a Chelsea player.

The magazine reflects his trophy-laden career at the Bridge through a combination of words and images.

Ab Fab Fabregas completed his move to Stamford Bridge from Barcelona shortly before the start of the World Cup, and the latest edition of Chelsea examines how the Spanish midfielder will have a positive impact on his new team.

The magazine takes a look at a statistical breakdown of his performances in La Liga and asks a former Blue, now presenting Spanish football on television, about how he will fit in to Jose Mourinho's team.

Webb reflectsDavid Webb will always have a special place in the hearts of Chelsea supporters having scored the FA Cup-winning goal against Leeds United in 1970, and the former defender is this month’s ‘Chelsea Icon’.

A two-time winner of the club’s Player of the Year award, Webb recalls his time at Stamford Bridge with great fondness, discussing a remarkable series of events against Ipswich Town, his fondness for playing in Europe and the impact of some kind words from Michael Crawford.

Seb’s a true blueHaving grown up being able to see the Stamford Bridge floodlights from his bedroom, DJ Seb Fontaine was always going to be a Chelsea supporter, and in the latest edition of the magazine he discusses his passion for the Blues. He plumps for our 1999 Champions League draw away at AC Milan as one of his most memorable matches and picks a diminutive Italian playmaker, along with a hard-as-nails English defender as his favourite players.

As well as all of this, there is also news of some changes to the Academy coaching staff, an interview with new Chelsea Ladies goalkeeper Christiane Endler and much more.

Chelsea is available in the Megastore and all good newsagents priced £3.25.

Individual digital issues are available for just £2.99, and you can click on the relevant link below to buy yours now.